1 92 Miscellaneous. 



Several individuals were taken from one column and placed in 

 the lino of march of the ants from the other nest. They showed the 

 usual evidences of strangeness and failed to fraternize ; but, on the 

 other hand, no one was assaulted by the passers by, a toleration 

 worthy of note, as showing some degree of community among the 

 various nests of the one species. 



The time which the author could give to these observations was 

 limited to several hours of a summer afternoon, which he spent as a 

 tourist in this interesting mountain-region ; but they present some 

 conclusions which appear to bo reasonably decisive, and which at 

 least may serve to stimulate further observations in the same line 

 extending over greater periods and including a greater number of 

 cases. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. November 1, 1887, p. 335. 



On some new Species o/Ceponina. By MM. A. Giard and 

 J. Bonnier. 



The Ceponina, or Epicarides parasitic upon the Brachyurous 

 Decapods, until within the last few years were known only by a 

 very small number of species which were very insufficiently described. 

 Since the publication of our Monograph on Cepon elcgans, with a 

 revision of the group, we have received abundant materials for study, 

 which enable us to extend considerably the notions arrived at with 

 regard to these curious Isopoda. 



Prof. Milne-Edwards has furnished us with a Ceponian parasitic 

 upon the Nautilograpsus minutus, Fabr., of the Sargasso Sea. Prof. 

 J. R. Henderson, of Madras, has sent us a Portunicepon parasitic 

 upon the Thalamita callianassa, Herbst, of the Indian seas. Lastly, 

 M. A. Agassiz, having been kind enough to confide to us for descrip- 

 tion the superb series of Epicarides belonging to the museum of 

 Harvard College (Cambridge, Mass.), we have found in this collec- 

 tion a very interesting type, collected at the Society Islands upon 

 Trapezia dentlfrons, Latr. 



The Cepon of the Nautilograpsus, which we shall call Grapsicepon 

 Edwardsi, appears to be a comparatively abundant species. Of 

 326 Nautilograpsi collected on the 4th August, 1883 (voyage of the 

 ' Talisman '), 32 bore parasites either on the right or on the left of 

 the carapace, 2 were infested at the same time both to the right and 

 left, and the two sexes are equally attacked by this Cepon. 



This parasite produces no apparent deformation of the carapace 

 of the Nautilograpsus. Nevertheless it is easy to recognize its 

 presence in consequence of the transparency of the integuments of 

 the crab, which enables us vaguely to distinguish the outlines of the 

 Bopyrian. The reddish colour of the adult female of Grapsicepon 

 Edwardsi persists very well in alcohol and greatly facilitates the 

 search for it. The influence exerted upon the internal organs of 

 the host seems to be very slight. A good number of infested females 

 of the Nautilograpsus bear ova under the tail in as considerable 

 quantities as the healthy females. 



